Due to the large volume of election-related letters, Foster's Daily Democrat will be running some on the web only.

Jobs not regulations

$488 Billion of new regulations were added by the Obama Administration, the American Action Forum estimates. That's $488 Billion of Union and Non-union jobs down the drain, unless you act.

Mr. Obama says he's for jobs, but this shows he prefers more regulations.

Obama is biting the hand of the hard-working American Unions. Mitt Romney will slash regulations, restoring us on the path to prosperity.

David K. Martin

District 16 House Candidate

Dover

Beth O'Connor is brave enough to stand for liberty.

It can be disheartening to watch over and over as people look to an overburdened and debt soaked government to solve problems. A fearful person looks to misguided policies of coercion to save them with the strong forceful arm of government even though we are buried in similar failed policies of the past. It requires a principled person to look to the individual rather than government to solve problems. This confidence in the individual was embodied in the spirit of Maine when I moved here as a child thirty years ago. But it has faded and is largely unknown to many today as the ideas of Washington D.C. have taken root and have been embraced by many here. The independent spirit of Maine that taught me so much has yielded to a nature that increasingly depends on failing programs and services.

It is encouraging to see someone who has a deep understanding of liberty stand for their principles. Beth is one of the few in Augusta who truly understand the importance of liberty in creating a free and prosperous society. She understands what the statue of liberty stands for. The symbol of lady liberty on her sign is not just an empty emotional appeal. It is what Beth is all about. I am confident she will stand for liberty in Augusta even if she has to stand alone.

Standing for liberty requires bravery. I will be voting for Beth O'Connor because she is one of the brave few who do.

Ron Morrell

Berwick, ME

Reading your letter "War On Women Is A Myth", I was reminded of a personal experience of over 40 years ago. I was a divorced and single Mother living in Texas, working two jobs to support my child. At my annual physical exam I requested birth control pills from the physician and was horrified when he told me "you are an unmarried woman and as such, it is against the law for me to issue you a prescription for birth control". Eventually, I found a physician who supplied me with samples of birth control pills and to this day I am grateful to that kind doctor. This nonsense about "not wanting to pay for another women's birth control" is patently ridiculous. We should all pay for Viagra but not for birth control for responsible minded women who want to plan the birth (or non birth) of their children? If the Repulican Party wonders why they are losing ground with women voters, this is the answer. None of us, no American woman, want to go back in time when women bled to death during abortions done in dirty motel rooms with coat hangers, when women had to go begging for samples of birth control pills from kind physicians, when rape was a word you had to hide from, I could go on and on, but this information is in American history books. At every opportunity I tell any young woman who will listen about illegal birth control in America in the year 1980. At first, no one believes me, but eventually I get that raised eyebrow look that says "No way!". Yes, way. Please vote. Thank you.

Kate Buckley

Wolfeboro

For quite some time I have been enduring, without comment, the

disdain, and downright vitriol, being heaped upon undecided

voters. But your editorial cartoon today, depicting such voters as

diners in a restaurant who have overstayed their welcome while the

staff just wants to go home, was simply too far over the top to let it pass.

For the record: If I have to choose between shooting myself in the

head or in the heart, can I be blamed for wanting to put off the pain

for as long as possible?

But that aside, THE ELECTION HASN'T BEEN HELD YET! The fact that the

6-year-olds of the press can't contain their curiosity doesn't give

them a right to my opinion or a right to force my choice!

If I was standing in the voting booth at 9 pm on election day holding

up the counting they would have a good reason to complain and I would

deserve their scorn. But complaining now, in the middle of the

evening rush, that I haven't yet bothered to place my order is just

childish petulance. Hey, you in the media! I don't really care how

tired you are. It's not TIME to go home yet!

Augustus P. Lowell

Durham

The Republican Party is in bed with "The Tea Party"! We can be sure if the Republicans win in this election, the Tea Party will be there to co-rule!! There will be drilling in the Arctic Oceans,and the XL Pipeline carrying tar-sands oil from Canada down through our country to Texas. There will be oil spills that CANNOT be contained (or cleaned up), especially in the Artic!! Romney himself said on TV he wants drilling in the Arctic. President Obama has had 4 years "to learn the ropes"--now he can AND WILL get our country back on track . Please give him another 4 years to help us grow in the right direction!!

Patricia Newhall

Barrington

Dear Editor:

I am writing this letter in support of my friend Leo Lessard for Strafford County Commissioner.

I have known Leo for many years. I remember how capable and effective he was in the New Hampshire State Senate.

For many years he has done a fine job as the Register of Deeds. He runs his department in accordance with his budget. The public gets their money's worth with Leo.

As County Commissioner, Leo will have to deal with a large budget. He will vote with the taxpayer in mind. Our dollars will be safe with Leo.

I urge all citizens of Strafford County to cast a vote for Leo Lessard for County Commissioner. You won't be sorry.

ROBERT E. FISHER

Dover

Obama's Accomplishments and Plans

President Obama inherited an economic disaster with the US and indeed the world's financial system on the brink of collapse and with job losses of 2 million in the first quarter of 2009, before his programs took hold. Millions of people were watching their long-term financial security melt away as home values and the stock market headed south. The President acted quickly to stimulate the economy and non-partisan economists agree that the stimulus saved or created millions of jobs and added at least two percentage points to the country's GDP. The President did this with tax cuts to the middle class and emergency aid to the states to minimize lay-offs of municipal workers like police firefighters and teachers. He oversaw the rescue of the US auto industry which saved jobs and saved a lot of American pride in an industry that once again is world class. He provided tax incentives to small business and assistance to entrepreneurs to help make their ideas commercially viable. The result: the bleeding stopped, home prices are recovering, the stock market is way up, and, most important, jobs are being created—5.2 million private sector jobs in the last 31 months. For the future, the president has a plan to give tax breaks to companies that create jobs in the US, to continue investing in high-tech R&D which will support better jobs in fields like renewable energy, to expand tax relief for small businesses, and to support advances in education to prepare workers for the jobs of the future, to name a few of the many short and long-term programs we need to restore our economic health. We are on the right track. It is no time to reverse course.

Robert Wilkinson

Portsmouth

Undermining with Binders

If Romney ever hopes to become president, I sure hope Staples is fully stocked. He'll need access to binders full of women in order to find those qualified for the jobs that men are getting.

On the flip-side the first bill President Obama signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which protects women and racial minorities against pay discrimination. I'm sure no woman would like to jump through hoops (or binder rings) to make ends meet because they are paid less than their male coworkers, so we can say a warm thank you to him for that!

Thus far, (and it's getting quite late, don't you think?), Mitt Romney has notstood up for equal pay for equal work. He would deny millions of women access to preventive care - including contraception, mammograms and wellness visits - by repealing Obamacare, which ensures coverage for preventive care at no extra cost and will stop insurers from charging women more than men for the same coverage.

This is preposterous, because we are not, nor will we ever be, a country comprised of only men, or a country where only men matter.

President Obama has always fought for women's issues, but MittRomney needed binders of resumes to find women “fit” for his cabinet in Massachusetts because his corporate buyout firm didn't have any female partners. They were just a waste of space on their corporate bookshelf though, because the percentage of women in senior state government positions declined on Romney's watch.

Time is ticking, voters. If you are a woman, or even a man with women in his life, why would you vote for Mitt Romney, who aims to undermine women's equality in America? Why would you vote for the man who wants women's health left in the hands of male politicians and male bosses who don't understand the challenges faced by women? A man who would cut funding to Planned Parenthood, a service millions of women rely on for health services like contraception and breast and cervical cancer screenings.

I, as a racial minority, and a woman, will not be shoved into a binder by Mitt Romney's outdated discriminatory policies. And I, as an American, regardless of race or gender or age, deserve every opportunity a man may have. As do you, readers. As do you! Think about that when you make your way to the polls.

Aria Satish

Dover

description:

“This past term, I had the pleasure to work with Representative Laura

Jones on the outstanding House Education Committee. We worked

together in a non-partisan effort with the goal of quality education

for our precious children. Her strong work ethic, integrity,

dedication and strong family values are truly above reproach. She

played an important role in passing a high percentage (over 20%) of quality

legislation.

I also interact with Laura as a Delegate to the Strafford County Executive Committee. My professional contact with Laura's family, (her son Kyle is also a State Representative) gives me great pleasure to enjoy their polite and family values that anyone would love as a neighbor.

Her excellent background in accounting complemented other member skills of the House Education Committee. Education in New Hampshire is a $2.9 billion dollar business. Maximizing a great return of investment in our children's education has been a paramount goal of our House Education Committee. We spent long hours hearing testimony from novice to expert in hopes to make the New Hampshire Citizen proud and presenting legislation for a better New Hampshire future through the betterment of our children.

When Rep. Jones saw a problem with a particular bill, she took the

initiative and worked with other members of the Committee. She made detailed arguments to reach consensus of a suitable amendment. Laura Jones has many high ratings and endorsements from Pro-Liberty, Pro- Constitutional and Pro-Family organizations. (see joepitre.com for links of verification)

Laura Jones made a solemn promise to the voters of Rochester. Smaller government, fiscal responsibility (without gimmicks) and returning to Constitutional values we pledged to uphold. I offer her stellar voting record and I recommend that the citizens of Rochester vote to send her back to Concord for the upcoming term. Her voting record would make any New Hampshire Citizen proud”

Representative Joe Pitre

Farmington

Trickle-down incompetence

We now know that trickle-down congressional incompetence works as large segments of our economy cower under the shadow of the sequestration axe. How can such a great nation have such a dysfunctional group managing our investment in government? The answer is simple when you understand who congress works for. Most in congress do not need the $170,000 or so salary we pay them, but they all desperately need the millions of dollars required to keep their prestigious public service positions. The same holds true for the Presidential candidates.

Before you cast your vote for any federal candidate (and now many State offices), the most important thing to understand is where the money is coming from. Forget the commercials, speeches, yours and their political ideologies; we get the government that those who fund political campaigns want. For all intents and purposes, once we leave the voting booth, we are dismissed, while those who bought the seats at the table guide the legislation that will best serve their interests, not ours.

So before you vote, make sure you go to www.opensectrets.org and other sites, and understand where the bulk of the money is coming from, since that is who your candidate will be working for. It is foolish to expect more from those who manage our tax dollars as long as they are bought and paid for and take pledges that are, by their nature, counter to the Pledge of Allegiance. I wish I could paint a prettier picture for you, but until we as a nation choose to step up to our civic obligations and better manage our government, not much is going to change. So please do your financial homework before you vote.

Steven Borne, Rye

NH Managing Our Government

Low Class Middle Class VOTE

The upcoming Governors election is one of great importance to our NH. Ovide wants to dramatically change NH. Ovide Lamontagne a millionaire Tea Party member has an agenda, as witnessed over the last two years. To crush the middle and working class of the state without caring about hurting those citizens who need help the most (young and old). He is backed by the billionaire Koch brothers who held a fundraiser for Ovide. The Koch brothers, out to destroy the middle class, plan to spend up to $100 million influencing elections across America as seen in our states presidential primary. Ovide wants to cut funding for public schools which would mean our property taxes would increase to compensate. He is 100% pro-life which means if a woman is raped and gets pregnant she can't have an abortion. I can't imagine not having the freedom to choose. He believes in getting rid of the minimum wage which would mean businesses could pay teenagers or college students $4 an hour instead of $7.25 to someone who depends on it to pay their rent and support their family. It is time to restore the NH way. Maggie Hassan is committed to restoring the NH way and to reinstate the help that our most vulnerable folks need. Polls show it will be a close race, and that Maggie Hassan needs you to get out and vote for her. Your vote will count and protect the low and middle class.

Bobbie Emerson

Strafford

Dear Editor,

On December 20, 201 at 3:55 PM ( Ah, computers!) Carol Shea-Porter—along with the Democratic House and Democratic Senate voted “YES” to extend the Bush Tax Cuts for ALL people. ( No, they didn't all do it at 3:55.) The tax cuts were to expire on January 1, 2011. Perhaps this lame duck –December Congress was responding to the land slide Republicans victory in November. Whatever the motivation, what we know for a fact is that Carol Shea-Porter voted to continue the Bush Tax Cuts for all, just 22 months ago. What we hopefully can assume, is that she did that just because she thougth that was the best thing for America. Or maybe she did that because Nancy and Barack told her to.

Barack and Nancy don't like the Bush Tax Cuts for everybody anymore and—guess what?—neither does Carol. So why did she vote to continue them if she felt that way, or has anything changed in America to have her change her mind—like improvement in the economy or people back to work. Maybe the Bush Tax Cuts didn't result in increased jobs, but increasing taxes on a country's people isn't going to either (Barack Obama, January 2010.)

When Carol Shea-Porter was a sitting Congresswoman, she was asked why she voted with Nancy Pelosi almost 100% of the time. She answered that that was what she believed so, of course, she voted the same way.

I can understand that Carol should feel loyalty to hthe Democratic Party and to the Democratic President. Afterall, she's a Democrat. Loyalty to the party line is very important. Blind Loyalty is another thing. Being loyal to yourself and your own principals is important too—and until Carol Shea-Porter can explain to us what has changed in 22 months to have her make a 180 degree change in position, then I have to believe that she does does as she is told. Hypocrite! Phony! I don't want a Congressman like that.

You can disagree with Frank Guinta and that is fine. I disagree with him sometimes too. But he's no phony. He's the real thing. If George W. Bush came to him and said, “Frank, I've changed my mind. I don't want my tax cuts extended to all. Vote my way.” Frank Guinta would say, “sorry, Mr. President. The Bush Tax Cuts are what's best for the country. I felt that way when I ran in 2010 and I find no change in circumstances. I find no reason to change my mind now.”

Why are they called the Bush Tax cuts anyway? Barack Obama was President of the United States in December 2010 and he signed the act to extend and made it into law. Let's hear it for the Obama Tax Cuts! Rah! Rah! What do you say now, Carol Shea-Porter?

Judy Preston

Hampton

I do not live in Rochester but I would like to express my support for Sue DeLemus in the upcoming election. I first met her at a local business where our vehicles were being serviced. We started a conversation about local issues and I was immediately impressed not only by her knowledge of the issues but by her passion for the issues. She has true New Hampshire values and is a fiscal conservative that we can trust to do what is in the best interest of all the citizens of this great state. So for the people in Sue's district, please give her a chance to finish what she has started. We still have a ways to go to get our state back on track.

Roger Turmelle

Strafford

Representative Schroadter Embodies the True New Hampshire

During the past session in Concord, one of partisan mistrust and too much rhetoric, we have been fortunate enough to have at least one member of the House that embodies what New Hampshire has traditionally been about. Adam Schroadter may not have been raised here, but he stands for everything his adopted home does. He is a man of moderation and common sense. He does not vote solely along party lines and wants feedback from the community. This is the type of person you envision when you imagine a good legislator.

Adam is very involved and fully invested in this community. His business and his home are both in Newmarket. His young daughter will one day attend our schools. He and his wife have proven themselves capable planners and volunteers when it comes to our town's programs and events. Their involvement in co-founding the Newmarket Farmers Market, the Oyster Festival, Newmarket's Halloween Haunt, Riverworks Shop Local/Holiday Farmers Market, and other events and programs are commendable actions that speak volumes about a meaningful connection to this place. Adam, like so many taxpayers, wants to see jobs and tourism, environmental responsibility, and a true sense of community flourish in his town. And he has stepped up to assist in furthering these goals while so many do nothing, except complain.

Before entering the legislature Adam was involved with the Newmarket School to Career Partnership. Since entering the political spectrum he has connected with folks in the community college system and joined the NH Advisory Board of Navigating the Real World. He has testified that the state must restore building aid programs and for the need of updating program funding criteria that for too long have given our community the short leg of the turkey. He is a man that sticks up for all New Hampshire families and believes in the genuine good and enthusiasm found all over this state.

There are, however, some in the larger community that have spoken out against his attendance record during the first half of his term. I do not believe these people are aware that he and his family suffered the loss of two twin boys and were understandably affected by that tragedy. Since then, however, Adam Schroadter has proven himself over and over again in committee, in testimony, in conference, and on the floor. Even if you do not agree with every one of his votes, he wants to hear from you and hear your perspective too. You may find him at work or taking his daughter to the playground or showing up at your neighbor's yard sale. He is someone that wants to be found and who wants to be involved and work with others. No. Adam was not born here. But he has shown himself an admirable and honest man and as much a part of our town as three feet of snow in the winter or the lilacs in the spring.

Anthony Conti

Newmarket

Two places where you might think Romney would be favored are Utah and Massachusetts. Not so! Last week's endorsement of Barack Obama by The Salt Lake City Tribune makes it clear that not all of Utah is supportive. An article in the October 2012 issue of Boston Magazine entitled "Mass Revolt: Why Doesn't Romney Campaign in Massachusetts" explains why Romney is so unpopular in Massachusetts.

On October 19, The Salt Lake City Tribune, publishing in the heart of Mormonism and Republicanism, concluded their endorsement with the following:

“In considering which candidate to endorse, The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board had hoped that Romney would exhibit the same talents for organization, pragmatic problem solving and inspired leadership that he displayed here more than a decade ago. Instead, we have watched him morph into a friend of the far right, then tack toward the center with breathtaking aplomb. Through a pair of presidential debates, Romney's domestic agenda remains bereft of detail and worthy of mistrust.”

“Therefore, our endorsement must go to the incumbent, a competent leader who, against tough odds, has guided the country through catastrophe and set a course that, while rocky, is pointing toward a brighter day. The president has earned a second term. Romney, in whatever guise, does not deserve a first.”

The Boston Magazine article urges Americans to “pay attention,” and goes on to say, “There's been too little talk about Romney's time as governor of Massachusetts, and now that you're deciding whether to make him our next president, it's worth understanding just how and why he alienated the voters who know him best. Because the big problems that have been plaguing Romney on the campaign trail—that he's personally inaccessible, that he's had trouble unifying his party, that he's become known as a flip-flopper—all have their roots in Massachusetts.

The stakes are very high in the upcoming election. We should trust the opinions of people who know Romney best. Give Obama a second term and return Carol Shea-Porter to Washington. As the Salt Lake City Tribute says, “The president has earned a second term.”

Janet Campbell

Dover

Vote No on ballot questions 1 and 2

The League of Women Voters New Hampshire, a non-partisan political organization, urges NH voters to vote NO on ballot questions 1 and 2. They are both proposals to amend the NH Constitution, something that should be done only rarely and only when necessary.

Question 1 attempts to enshrine fiscal policy in the Constitution by prohibiting future legislators from even considering a personal income tax as one source of state revenue. Creating a state budget is the job of each legislature, and future elected officials should not be bound by policy decisions of the current representatives.

Question 2 upsets the system of checks and balance of power between the judicial and legislative branches created at the founding of our state and nation. If passed it would give the legislature the power to override the state court's procedural and rule-making authority.

We urge you to maintain the integrity of the NH Constitution on November 6 by voting NO on questions 1 and 2.

Liz Tentarelli, co-president

League of Women Voters NH

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and staff, I extend my utmost appreciation to our friends in the greater Seacoast community, whose hard work and energy contributed to Strawbery Banke Museum's incredibly successful Vintage & Vine 2012 held September 8.

The fine wine and food festival incorporated a Green. Grow. Global. theme. By recycling and composting all materials, the event achieved zero waste for the first time with the support of Eco Movement.

Thanks to the partnership of New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlets, the leadership of event co-chairwomen and trustees Cynthia Harvell and Michelle Firmbach Nadeau, event coordinators Jordan Osbon and Sarah Thibodeau of Aqua Communications, the devotion of auction coordinators Cynthia Fenneman and Siobhan Hyman and unparalleled support from a manifold of businesses and individuals in the greater community, the wine festival exceeded fundraising goals. This annual tasting resulted in a total income of $100,000 and a final profit of $72,000 to support our buildings and landscapes preservations efforts, school and summer camp programs and the wide variety of events and programs the museum provides for more than 75,000 annual visitors.

We also wish to extend a wholehearted thank you to our hard-working event volunteers and all of our community partners for their support. This event would not have been possible without their generosity.

Thank you to our 38 participating restaurants, 15 wine brokers, 35 sponsors, and more than 180 businesses and individuals who graciously donated items to the Vintage & Vine silent auction, which raised more than $20,000 to the museum.

Thank you to our featured chefs: Amie Hurd of The Exchange, Ben Hasty of When Pigs Fly, John Forti Curator of Historic Landscape at Strawbery Banke Museum, Matt Louis of Moxy, and Morrgan Machado of Demeters Steakhouse.